Compare towns
Steuben vs Wayne vs Chesterville vs Porter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Steuben has the most affordable homes ($174k median).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Chesterville has the most kids (31.3% under 18).
Porter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Steuben | Wayne | Chesterville | Porter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,388 |
1,101Lowest |
1,397 |
1,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.8% ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±8.5 10% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
37.8±4Lowest 16% below ME |
40.9±7.9 9% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
31.3%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Chesterville and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±1 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
15%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.9% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.4% ME: 36.2% |
14%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,466±$4k about the ME average |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$61,635±$10k 18% below ME |
$60,417±$9kLowest 19% below ME |
| Wayne and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $173,900±$32kLowest 41% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$214,000±$40k 28% below ME |
$226,100±$20k 24% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $678±$319Lowest 40% below ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$1,088±$73Highest 4% below ME |
— |
| Chesterville and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,029 33% below ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$2,194 28% below ME |
$1,841Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±87.8 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
21.8%±30.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
43.9%±8.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Porter and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
86.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 14% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.5%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Porter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 24 | RSU 38 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.